Health Insurance For Travelers
This is insurance for traveling without worries because it covers medical expenses that you may incur. The insured is covered for any medical treatment from a simple medical consultation to hospitalization in the case that it is necessary. It also covers return trips if required.
Coverage will depend on the type of insurance that you have. Therefore it is preferable to ask about pertinent details from the insurance carrier of your choosing. It is a good idea to always carry a copy of the policy with you in case the original is lost. You should also keep copies of receipts when you use the insurance.
The best thing to do is to buy the insurance with anticipation because it could be the case that you won’t be covered during the trip if you buy it only a week ahead of time due to the fact that the paperwork could take longer than normal and not all offices will cover this time period. In general, if you need hospitalization, the traveler will have to pay directly to the hospital and then later be reimbursed by the insurance company. In most hospitals and clinics, credit cards are accepted.

Medical Attention in Ecuador: Doctors, Hospitals & Pharmacies
In Ecuador there are many hospitals and clinics where the traveler can be attended if there is some emergency while in the country. But it is recommended that the traveler check things out before traveling to prevent incidents.
If the traveler needs some medical attention, the best thing to do is to go directly to the nearest clinic. For more information on the different clinics and hospitals, private as well as public, visit the section Hospitals and Health in Ecuador.
In the case that some type of medication is needed, the traveler can obtain this at any pharmacy. The largest chain of pharmacies in Quito and in the country is Fybeca. Throughout the city, small and large pharmacies can be found. But remember that if you generally take some specific medication in your home country, this type of medication may not exist in Ecuador so you should make sure to bring a large enough supply of the product to last you during your stay.
It is also recommendable to know generic names of certain medications because there are many places that make medicines. In general, the generic medication is cheaper than brand name ones. It is also recommended to look for a doctor that could recommend a certain medication because self-medicating is not safe. Some hotels can give you a list of doctors but it is best if you go to a clinic or a hospital.

Necessary Vaccinations
For traveling to Ecuador, you should be vaccinated for some diseases found in the country that you could be exposed to. This is for prevention but it is not a rule. This should be done under the indication of your doctor because you may not be able to receive two vaccines at the same time or you could be allergic to one of them. It is recommended that the traveler consult with a doctor about this at least 6 months prior to travel.
The vaccinations necessary in Ecuador are against cholera (this vaccine is not very potent in its level of protection and can cause certain secondary effects). However, the diphtheria/tetanus vaccine is highly recommended for everyone. Generally these are administered together. The first sea very good vaccine against hepatitis A that lasts about 10 years. If the traveler is planning on visiting the Amazon region especially he should be vaccinated for hepatitis B. The polio vaccine that is generally administered in childhood is highly recommended as well as the vaccine for yellow fever. In spite of the fact that rabies is not common in Ecuador, it is preferable that you are vaccinated against it. The vaccine against typhoid is generally required for all of South America, above all if the trip is going to be a long one. It is always better to be safe than sorry.